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OUTSIDE CAR COVER.

The all purpose forum for any TR7/8 related topics.
FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 04 Jan 2015 13:29

Car covers are not the best solution and rain proof, breathable ones are expensive.

I had an unusual limit space so I made my temporary garage out of ABS plumbing pipe reinforced with 1"x3" angled boards secured with metal gate hardware. The end horizontal pieces are made of two tubes of different sizes so one fits in another so the width can be varied if needed. A regular cheap tarp fits over it. The roof is made out of 2x2 with joints of plastic that came from an inexpensive green house kit. It is strong enough to withstand the odd heavy (moisture laden) snow and while it is somewhat protected from the wind it is held down by J reinforcing rod driven into the ground. It all cost a couple hundred dollars, about the same as a cheap metal/canvas cover but it was made to size rather than the regular 10x20.

You could make a pup tent type similar thing that will just fit over the small TR7 with curvable white plumbing pipe but that stuff isn't strong enough for a heavy snow fall (already tried that).

To late now but you do need a tarp on the ground as the Tercel's exhaust system is rusted out just sitting there on the bare ground as I only drive it once in a blue moon now.

The Spitfires are covered by regular tarps but I'm not worried about paint as they need restoring.

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- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT
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dursleyman
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Postby dursleyman » 05 Jan 2015 13:46

Couple of pictures of my Moltex cover showing how the seams are starting to rot and fail after a couple of years. Not cheap about £150

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Russ

1981 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

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j.johnson23
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Postby j.johnson23 » 05 Jan 2015 16:38

Gordon kerr,thanks for the offer but i`m in the midlands so too far away.
I`d love a portable garage but it would have to be out front and someone is not keen on the idea!
The idea of using the plumbing fittings is very clever though,as a tarp can be replaced quite cheaply and easily.

saabfast
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Postby saabfast » 05 Jan 2015 18:27

I am in a similar position having lost 'my' garage with the sale of my parents house. I have used cheaper covers over the past years when I had it parked in the driveway over summer but they have always fallen apart after 12-18 months. It generally seems to be the sun which affects them. (I only keep it covered as gulls use the driveway for bombing practice like they were practicing for the Dambusters).

I thought I would try something better a couple of years ago and bought a Coverzone Voyager indoor/outdoor cover, but got it for a similar price virtually unused off Fleabay. It was actually meant for a 1 Series BMW but the plan size is very similar. I did find that, as the BMW is somewhat higher, it wraps under the car further than others. (Also the mirror pockets are in the wrong place but the TR7 mirrors are too small to worry about). The material is different, much thinner but stronger feeling and a silver colour rather than grey, and it is held by two straps with clip joints passing under the car rather than grotty string which rots in no time. I used it on and of over the summer and it is now on permanently for the winter to avoid the droppings. So far it seems to be faring well with no sign of deterioration, just hope it will last the whole winter or longer.

Alan
Saab 9-5 2.3t Vector Auto Estate
'81 TR7 DHC
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supercass
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Postby supercass » 05 Jan 2015 19:58

Dursleyman, if that cover was intended to be used outside long term you should ask for your money back as it is clearly not fit for purpose! supercass

dursleyman
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Postby dursleyman » 05 Jan 2015 22:47

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by supercass</i>

Dursleyman, if that cover was intended to be used outside long term you should ask for your money back as it is clearly not fit for purpose! supercass
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Funny you should say that because I complained to the TR Register who I got it through and they replaced the previous one. Now the replacement has gone the same way.

Russ

1981 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

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john 215
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Postby john 215 » 06 Jan 2015 05:27

Hi,

I think the sun tends to ruin these covers more than the bad weather, so I now leave my Monsoon car cover of the FHC when we do get a hot spell and when its going to blow a gale too. The other problem is the bl88dy neighbours cats do like sitting on it [V] and sure they have wrecked at least one in the past with there claws [:(!]

Cheers John

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LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC BEAUTY FITTED WITH OVERDRIVE GEARBOX

1979 3.5 FHC CURRENTLY GARDEN ART !

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6, BUILT NOT BROUGHT !!!!

Hasbeen
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Postby Hasbeen » 06 Jan 2015 08:58

Better the cats sit on a cover, rather than the hood/soft top.

Hasbeen

dursleyman
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Postby dursleyman » 06 Jan 2015 15:12

Off topic but Hasbeen reminded me of a cat story.
I used to run a Toyota Corolla AE86 rally car, excellent car and very successful for me. I also helped run another one from my mates body shop and when the other driver got an entry on The Lombard RAC Rally we took almost all of my car along as spares - axle, gearbox, suspension, lights etc etc. We left the bodyshell covered and jacked up on tall axle stands in a friends barn. After the rally we went to collect my car and found the farm cats had figured out how to jump up through the gearlever hole so they could sleep in the bucket seats. Luckily there was only lots of fur on the seats and nothing else. Puzzle is how they discovered they could jump up through that small hole. We did get the guy to the finish of the 5 day rally but had to fit my gearbox at a quick change in the middle. Good times.

Russ

1981 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

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Beans
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Postby Beans » 06 Jan 2015 20:40

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by john 215</i>

... the bl88dy neighbours cats do like sitting on it ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Cat's don't like news papers spread over a soft top.
And they certainly don't like being hosed with water when they are sleeping on top of a car [:D]

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<font color="blue"><i>1976 TR7 FHC (needs some TLC ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng
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Hasbeen
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Postby Hasbeen » 06 Jan 2015 22:37

Getting a bit off topic, but I'll put up with the cats, ours at least.

When we ran a Toyota Cressida for my lady we twice had problem with it running rough in the morning. Rats from the horse feed shed had found a nice warm spot to nest, between the cam covers of the straight 6. Not only warm, but with a supply of lovely food, the plug leads. Each time they had eaten through 3 leads.

One little note on my ladies mechanical sympathy, she had got 4 miles on just 3 plugs, before she called me to say she had a problem.

Moved it from the shed to the open car port, where the cats can climb on it, & no further problem.

Also installed a cat flap on the shed, & rat bait boxes, along with more serious efforts in the feed shed. Don't want our fury friends around the Triumphs or other good cars.

Hasbeen

Cobber
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Postby Cobber » 07 Jan 2015 00:01

You need to train your car to defend itself from animal attack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIkjWFNAKI [:D]

"Keep calm, relax, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER"

80'Triumph TR7, 73'Land Rover (Ford 351. V8),
'89 Ford Fairlane
'98 MG-F, 69'Ford F250.

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